System and apparatus for generating and distributing electric currents



Aug. 17 1926. 1,596,857

QJH. TOWER SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC GURREN'I'S Origiixal Filed Dec. 12. 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ill WWW)

ATTOR/VEV Aug. 17, 1926. 1,596,857

. c. H. TOWER SYSTEM AND APEARATUS FOR GENERATING AND DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC CURRENTS Original Filed Dec. 12. 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arm/wr Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. TOWEIL'OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE TEAGLE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC CURRENTS.

Original application filed December 12, 1918, Serial No. 266,437.

Divided and this application filed April 26, 1923. Serial No. 634,659.

This invention relates to a system for generating and distributing electric currents and has to do more especially with an apparatus adapted to generate low tension current for battery charging purposes and high tension current for ignition purposes for use in connection with internal combustion engines and especially engines used for automotive purposes.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of apparatus comprising a low tension direct current generator, a high tension ignition current generator and a storage battery and having means for insuring strong ignition currents at low engine speeds.

A further object of the invention is the provision of apparatus such as last referred to having means for insuring strong ignition currents at low engine speeds even when the storage battery is out of commission.

Anotherobject of the invention is the provision of apparatus of the character in question having a low tension generator with satisfactory characteristics under normal operating conditions and with a suiticiently low pick-up speed to excite the high tension generator strongly enough to give a satisfactory spark by hand cranking in case the batter gets out of order.

Further objects of the invention, more or less incidental to the foregoing, will appear in the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which I show several preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagram of one form of my improved apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a diagram of an alternative form of construction.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing another alternative form of construction.

The present application is a division of my earlier application, Serial No. 266,437, filed December 12, 1918, upon which has been granted Letters Patent No. 1,466,635, and reference may be had to said earlier application for a detailed showing and description of parts which in the present application are not shown or are shown only diagrammatically.

Referring first to the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the combined low tension generator and high tension generator unit has a rotor shaft 8 on which is mounted the direct current armature 11 of the low tension generator, said armature having a commutator 11*. This armature is of standard construction. The shaft 8 also carries the rotor of the high tension generator, the laminated iron core ,(not shown) of said rotor having mounted thereon an exciting winding consisting of two coils 12 which are formed with a suiiicient number of turns of sufiiciently fine wire to insure at the same time both ample excitation and a very moderate draft of current.

The usual brushes 13, 14 cooperate with the commutator 11, the brush 14 being grounded as indicated. The low tension generator is excited by a winding comprising coils 15, 16 which are mounted on diametrically opposite field poles in the usual manner, one terminal of the winding being connected to the brush 13 while the other terminal of the winding is connected to a third brush 17 which is designed to afford the so-called third brush regulation for the low tension generator.

The exciting coils 12 may be suitably connected in series or parallel, according to the size and length of the winding. As shown they are connected in series, oneend of the winding being grounded and the other end being connected to a collector ring 18 which is mounted on a disc 19 of insulating material carried by the shaft 8. A brush 21, carried by the stator of the generator unit, contacts with the collector ring 18 and is connected through a lead 22 with the commutator brush 13 of the low tension generator.

On a suitable polar extension (not shown) of the stator structure and in inductive relation to the rotor winding 12 is mounted a high tension generating winding 29 comprising a coarse section 29 and a fine section 29". One end of the coarse section 29 is grounded while its other end is connected at 30 to one end of the fine winding 29*. The other end of said fine winding is connected by a lead 37 to the inner end of a rotary distributor arm 53. The outer end CIA of the distributor arm is arranged to move successively through points adjacent to the several terminals of high tension leads 55 that extend to spark plugs 56 of the cylinders of the engine in connection with which the apparatus is used. The arm is mounted on. a shaft driven from the shaft S of the generator.

The breaker mechanism of the high tension generator comprises a fixed electrode 59 which is adjustably mounted on a suitably supported holder 60. A movable electrode (S2 is carried by a pivoted arm (33 which is arranged to be actuated by cam (35 mounted on the shaft which carries the distributor arm (39 is a condenser connected across the breaker electrodes in the usual manner. The fixed electrode 59 of the breaker is connected by a lead with the junction point 30 of the coarse and fine sections 29 and 29 of the high tension winding.

Tl is a storage battery, one terminal of which is grounded while its other terminal is connected through lead 22, with the low tension generator brush 13 and with the collector ring 18 through which current is supplied to the exciting winding 12* of the high tension generator. cut-out mechanism T2, which designed to auton'iaticalljv' open the circuit when the voltage of the low tension generator falls below a certain value a .d to close the circuit when the voltage above this value. is interposed between said generator and the battery The movable electrode (32 0 Ti f the breaker connected by a lead 73 with a switch 7% by means of which the said electrode is normally connected to ground but can be connected through lead with the storage battery 71 and, when the cut-out 72 is closed, with the terminal of the low tension generator.

)1 switch Tb provided to break the circuit through the lead for the purpose stni ipin the engine. 7

The ope ation of the apoaratus as ollow On starting the engine, the 1 hav been retarded in the usual b; iir-itment of the breaker housing (not shown) and the cut-out being open by reason of the low speed 0 rotation. current flows from the storage battery 71 through the lead 2, brush 9i and collector ring 18 to the melting winding 12 of the high tension rotor. is said rotor turns its magnetic flux is passed through the ad- :icent statn'inary high tension winding 29 first in one direction and then in the other so that the flux through said high tension winding first increased and then decreased. ll hile the flux is decreasing the breaker closes and current flows in the short eircuited coarse section 29 of the generating winding. lVith the continued movement of the rotor the flux through the generating winding continues to decrease and at a suitable point the cam (55 causes the breaker to open, whereupon, the current in this section of the coil being interrupted, a rapid collapse of the llux follows and the consequent rise in potential in the tine section of the generating winding causes the current to break down the dielectric in the gap ot' the sit-ark plug of the engine cylinder with the production of the ignition spark. The continued rotation and consequent further tlux decrease generates an electro-molive force which sustains the spark current for an appreciable length of time, just as in the case of the direct high tension magneto. As the rotation continues the above cycle of operation is repeated and the ignition current is successively distributed to the engine cylinders in the well-known manner.

\Vhen the speed of the generator has in creased until its voltage is equal to or great or than the voltage of the battery, the cutout 72 operates to close the circuit, whereupon current tlows from the low tension generator to charge the battery and to energize the exciting winding 12* of the high tension generator. As the engine comes up to speed the spark can be advanced in accordance with the usual practice.

in starting the engine, should there be any ditiiculty in securing satisfactory ignition, as when the engine is turned over very slowly, the switch 7 -il can be shifted to connect the battery Tl through lead 75 with the movable electrode of the breaker, whereupon the electro-motive force of the battery is combined 'ith that due to the movement of the high tension rotor to generate current in the coil 2 when the breaker is closed. Of course the electro-motive force generated by the turning of the rotor is alternately added to and subtracted from that of the battery, but as the generated electro-motive force due to the slow turning of the rotor is very much smaller than that of the battery, a satisfactory ignition spark is secured even when the respective elcctro-motive forces are in opposition.

In Fig. 2, showing a modified form of my apparatus, where reference characters similar to those in Fig. 1 are employed they represent similar parts or devices which need not again be described. The object of this modified construction is to insure satisfactory ignition even when the battery is for any reason inoperative and hand-cranking is necessary. The low tension generator is provided with exciting coils 77 and 78 which supplement the coils 15 and 16. The coil 77 is connected with the brush 13 of the generator with which coil 15 is connected, and the coils 77 and 78 are connected together in series, one terminal of the last named coil being connected through a lead '79 with one of the terminals of a switch 74 current obviously can be employed for starting just as in the case of the system shown in Fig. 1, said current being passed either through excitin winding 12 alone or through both win ing 12 and course section 29 of the high tension generating winding. But if the battery should for any reason be out of order or inoperative and hand-cranking necessary to start the en'- gine, satisfactory ignition can be secured by means of current from. the low tension generator. For this pur ose switch 74 is thrown'to connect leads 3 and79 and the switch 76 is thrown to connect the lead and the lead 22. Thereupon current from the brush 13 of thegenerator not only flows through exciting coils 15 and 16 but also through the excitin thence through switc 74' to the coarse section 29 of the high tension generating coil and through switch 76" to the exciting winding 12 of the high tension generator.- With this system of windings and connections exciting coils 77 and 78 are connected in series with the load and the low tension generator picks up quickly and furnishes a sufficiently strong current to the coils of the high tension generator to insure adequate ignition current;

In Fig. ,3 I- have shownanother modified form 'of connections and, windings for the generator which is designed to accomplish in another way. the results secured by the s stem shown in Fi 2. As in the cas of ig. 2, parts and evices similar to those in Fig. 1 are designated "by similar reference characters. In the present system lead 22 of Fig. l is replaced by a lead 22' which extends from the brush 13 of the low tension generator to one terminal of a switch 81, and a .lead 22" which extends from a terminal of the saidswitch to the brush 21. The lead 22 is also connected to one terminal of a switch 82 with which lead 73 is connected. 83 is a lead extending from lead 22 (preferably connected; therewith between brush 13 and cut-out 72) to one of the terminals of a three-pole double throw switch 84.

In the present case the exciting winding of the low tension generator consists of two coils 85 and 86 which are connected together in series, the terminal of coil 85 bemg connected with brush 17 while the terminal of coil 86 is connected by lead 87 with one of the terminals of switch 84. A lead 88 connects one of the terminals of coils 77 and 78 and switch 84with a terminal of switch 81, and a lead 89 connects a terminal of switch 84 with on of the terminals of switch 82.

In the operation of the last described system, if the battery is in working order cur-1 rent from it can be used for ignition purposes when starting by moving the switch 84 to its lower position and connecting lead 22' with leads 22 and 73 through switches 81 and 82 respectively; or if desired the battery can be connected only to the ex citing winding 12', the movable electrode of the breaker being connected to ground by switch 82. But if the battery is out of order and cranking by hand is necessary, ade uate current for ignition purposes can be rawn from th low tension generator by throwing switch 84 to its upper position and moving switches 81 and 82 to their full line positions. Current then flows through the exciting windings 85 and 86 and then by way of switch 84. and the breaker to the coarse section 29 of the high tension generating coil, and also by way of the switch 84, switch 81 and'lead 22 to the exciting coil 12' of the high tension generator, As the coils 85 and 86 in this case have a. series connection the low tension generator picks up rapidly and generates a sufliciently strong current to insure satisfactory ignition at starting speeds.

When the engine is started the switch 84 can be thrown to its lower position whereupon the exciting coils 85 and 86 and also the movable electrode of the breaker are connected to ground while the low tension generator. is connected through lead 83,

switch 81 and lead 22 with the exciting the coils or primary windings 29 is periodically interrupted does not interfere with I the picking up of the low tension generator since there is a steady draft of current from the exciting coils 85 and 86 by way of the exciting coil 12 of the high tension generator. In this respect the actions of the two systems shown in Figs. 2 and 3 are similar, there being in each case a continuous draft of current through the exciting winding 12'.

While in each of the three forms of construction set forth ther is cooperative interaction between the low tension and high tension generators, it will be observed that not only does neither generator interfere in any way with the functions of the other but their interaction, as has been explained, results in the shortening of the time of pickup of the low tension generator.

It is to be understood that the forms of construction illustrated can be modified in various respects without departing from my invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

hat I claim is 1. In a system of generating and distributing low tension direct current and high tension ignition current, the combination with a high tension generator comprising a generating winding having a coarse section and a fine section, an exciting winding for establishing magnetic field in inductive relation to the generating winding, means for varying the flux of said field through said generating winning, and a circuit breaker for opening and closing the circuit through the coarse section of the high tension generating winding, of a low tension generator, a storage battery, and connections between the high tension generator, low tension generator and storage battery whereby current can be drawn from the low tension generator to energize the exciting winding of the high tension generator and to charge the storage battery or current can be drawn from the storage battery to energize the exciting winding and the coarse section of the generating winding of the high tension generator.

2. In a system of generating and distributing low tension direct current and high tension ignition current, the combination with a high tension generator comprising a generating winding having a coarse section and a fine section, an exciting winding for establishing a magnetic field in inductive relation to the generating winding, means for varying the flux of said field through said generating winding, and a circuit breaker for opening and closing the circuit through the coarse section of the high tension generating winding, of a low tension generator having an exciting winding adapted to be connected in series with an outside load, a storage battery, and connections between the high tension generator, low

tension generator and storage battery whereby current can be drawn from the low tension generator independently of said series exciting winding to energize theexciting winding of the high tension generator and to charge the storage battery or current can be drawn through said series exciting winding of the low tension generator to energize the exciting winding and the coarse section of the generating winding of the high tension generator.

3. In a system of generating and distributing low tension direct current and high tension ignition current, the combination with a high tension generator comprising a generating winding having a coarse section and a fine section, an exciting winding for establishing a magnetic field in inductive relation to the generating winding, means for varying the flux of said field through said generating winding and a circuit breaker for opening and closing the circuit through the coarse section of the high tension generating winding, of a low tension generator having an exciting winding normally connected in shunt relation to the load but adapted to be connected in series with a load, a storage battery, and connections between the high tension generator, low tension generator and storage battery whereby current can be drawn from the low tension generator independently of its exciting winding to energize the exciting winding of the high tensionigenerator and to charge the storage battery or current can be drawn from the low tension generator through its said exciting winding to energize the exciting winding and the coarse section of the generating winding of the high tension generator.

In witness whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

CHARLES H. 'rownn. 

